Colonie candidates collect cash

One Town Board contest features fundraising gap of more than 19 to 1

Published 11:37 pm, Tuesday, July 17, 2012

COLONIE — In what normally would be an off year for Colonie Town Board races, two resignations mean four candidates are vying for the available seats.

So far, they have shown a remarkable variance in how much money they have raised.

Democratic candidate Brian Haak will face Republican David Green in a bid to fill three years left on the term vacated by Nancy Hernandez. Hernandez left the board shortly after winning re-election to take a job with the New York state comptroller's office, and Haak, a former St. Johnsville town supervisor, was appointed to fill the seat for the rest of this year.

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Though he's got the job, Haak filed a form with the state Board of Elections that he raised less than $1,000.

Green, on the contrary, has racked up $19,670 in donations.

The attorney, who specializes in elder law, said he is getting an enthusiastic response.

"I haven't even had a fundraiser yet," Green said. "My client base is very excited about this opportunity for me. I have a very heavily Democratic population of clients as well as Republicans."

Green said people are responding strongly to his energy and enthusiasm, and only one of 30 donors is a family member.

Haak did not file a financial disclosure form and instead filed a notice to the state Board of Elections that he had raised and spent less than $1,000.

"I'm confident where we are. I have not focused so much on fundraising," he said. "I spent the month of June getting appointed to the board, getting to know the issues. We will be raising the money to meet the challenge, but at this point our focus was more on serving."

In the other town race, the contributions are about even.

David Rowley is running on the Democratic line against Republican Joe Gomez. A former Menands town justice, Rowley was named to fill the seat vacated by Republican Dan Dustin for the rest of this year. Whoever is elected this September will complete the last year in Dustin's term.

Rowley reported raising $5,615, while Gomez was close behind with $5,005.75.

Town races also involve spending by the town's political committees.

The town Democratic committee reported raising $17,910 in contributions. The Colonie Republicans did not file a financial statement.